In the world the strong often rule over the weak. In God’s kingdom, the principles that govern are the proper use of strength and power are different.
Strength is not given so that we can strut down the street like a rooster or peacock, drawing attention to ourselves. Strength is an asset that God enables us to be a part of so we can help others, not to rule over or exploit them.
Romans 15:1 tells us, “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak and not to please ourselves.”
I think it is power that corrupts people and causes them to forget God, and brings out the worst in people.
If we stay humble before God and use the power He gives us wisely and for His glory, God can trust us with much. It’s important to remember that we keep the right perspective on power and strength.
The Bible is full of examples of people who acknowledged their need and dependence on God. As long as they remembered that God was the source, and the strength they received was for His glory, everything went well.
A perfect example was Samson, He was dedicated to God from birth and was granted incredible, supernatural physical strength to fight the Philistines. But his arrogance and self-indulgence led him to treat His gift for his own personal power rather then stewardship from God. He lived a life of carelessness, pursuing women and acting on his own whims. He revealed the secret of his strength and his long hair. The consequence of that was when he didn’t realize God had left him when Delilah the philistine cutoff his hair, he didn’t realize God had left him. His strength vanished, and he was captured, blinded, and made to grind grain in prison. He repented and turned back to God, but accepted the consequences of his actions. (Judges 16).
The opposite of Samson was Paul. When Paul was troubled over a messenger of Satan, which he called the thorn of the flesh, he cried out to God to help. And God’s response was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weakness, that the power of Christ may rest on me ” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Paul had become at the end of himself, and there he found strength from God. His weakness was turned to strength.
As we follow Jesus, we don’t need to fear that God will condemn us or look down on us because of our weaknesses. Jesus empathizes with and offers us comfort and support. Hebrews 5:15 tells us, “We don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who had been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.”
It might seem a bit paradoxical when we consider the power weakness relationship in the Bible, but remember that God is the one who will ultimately reconcile all things and make all things right. Those who arrogantly want power in a godless way will someday find themselves brought to nothing. But those who humble themselves before God and acknowledge their profound need for Him will find themselves being strengthened.
From Pity to Praise 